All Blacks 2025
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:
As a bulked-up Sotutu works through the recovery process from knee surgery on November 1 (with a 12-week return to play, he’s expected back around season kickoff in ‘25), you ask if he’s been soured by his treatment from the national selectors.
Pretty good interview with him. open and honest.
I hope he plays the house down in super so he has to be picked.
Yeah I agree.
Maybe I am wrong but a trio of Sititi Lakai and Sotutu with Ardie off the bench (or starting at 7 with Lakai on the bench) would look pretty strong.I don't see the value in Sotutu with Lakai and Sititi already there, a better mix would be Sititi, Papali'i, Lakai, better defensively and at the ruck. it has everything you need. Savea on bench.
TBH your trio looks less strong than @nostrildamus's so it's likely Razor will go that way.
Bles were far worse off without Papali'i, I remember that loss to Saders his omission was the difference, they definitely wouldn't have lost if he'd played.
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Tim said in All Blacks 2025:
As a bulked-up Sotutu works through the recovery process from knee surgery on November 1 (with a 12-week return to play, he’s expected back around season kickoff in ‘25), you ask if he’s been soured by his treatment from the national selectors.
Pretty good interview with him. open and honest.
I hope he plays the house down in super so he has to be picked.
Yeah I agree.
Maybe I am wrong but a trio of Sititi Lakai and Sotutu with Ardie off the bench (or starting at 7 with Lakai on the bench) would look pretty strong.I don't see the value in Sotutu with Lakai and Sititi already there, a better mix would be Sititi, Papali'i, Lakai, better defensively and at the ruck. it has everything you need. Savea on bench.
TBH your trio looks less strong than @nostrildamus's so it's likely Razor will go that way.
Bles were far worse off without Papali'i, I remember that loss to Saders his omission was the difference, they definitely wouldn't have lost if he'd played.
I wasn't arguing against Papali'i.
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@darylmitchell said in All Blacks 2025:
I don't see the value in Sotutu with Lakai and Sititi already there, a better mix would be Sititi, Papali'i, Lakai, better defensively and at the ruck. it has everything you need. Savea on bench.
I don't see Lakai as being anything other than a 7 at international level, so he and Papalii are competing for the same position.
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@Bovidae Peter Lakai is already 110kg at age of 21,, he can play 8 no problem & Sotutu is not a generational player like Lakai appears to be.
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@darylmitchell I'm a fan of Lakai haven't seen generational talent just yet
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell I'm a fan of Lakai haven't seen generational talent just yet
If he’s a generational talent compared to Sotutu given what’s been written on here about him then Lakai must be some kind of superhuman.
Is it going to be fair if he plays against teams of lesser mortals ?
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@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell I'm a fan of Lakai haven't seen generational talent just yet
If he’s a generational talent compared to Sotutu given what’s been written on here about him then Lakai must be some kind of superhuman.
Is it going to be fair if he plays against teams of lesser mortals ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:
@darylmitchell I'm a fan of Lakai haven't seen generational talent just yet
If he’s a generational talent compared to Sotutu given what’s been written on here about him then Lakai must be some kind of superhuman.
Is it going to be fair if he plays against teams of lesser mortals ?
Yeah, but in the back of his mind he will always know that he ain't no Blackadder. Poor kid.
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@dogmeat said in All Blacks 2025:
I fear Robertson is John Hart 2.0. Except Hart inherited a great side and therefore enjoyed two illustrious years despite himself.
I hope NZR don't indulge Razor to the extent Eddie Tonks did Hart or we will see Mounga steering a sinking ship.
I'd say Hart was a far riskier coach.
He took big risks as a Blues coach but as a Blues coach he was pretty successful.
Not many seem to be giving him credit for promoting a young Michael Jones, for example. I vaguely recall concern Jones would be too small for the ABs. That concern didn't last long.Wait what .... Let's set aside that the Blues didn't exist at the time, but even blind freddie would have promoted MJ to the Auckland team. He was a 6 ft 1 95kg loosie in the 1980s, who considered him too small?
You are right it was Auckland. But at 8 (when I first remember he played) he wasn't considered tall for an 8 in the lineout (where he played - as I recall - before he set up at 7). But Hart defended his many ways of jumping, inherited from a basketball background (I think?) So no, not a criticism I heard when he moved to 7/6.
I doubt it would be easy to find material to back up my memory (or debate it) unless you knew the players...
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@dogmeat said in All Blacks 2025:
I fear Robertson is John Hart 2.0. Except Hart inherited a great side and therefore enjoyed two illustrious years despite himself.
I hope NZR don't indulge Razor to the extent Eddie Tonks did Hart or we will see Mounga steering a sinking ship.
I'd say Hart was a far riskier coach.
He took big risks as a Blues coach but as a Blues coach he was pretty successful.
Not many seem to be giving him credit for promoting a young Michael Jones, for example. I vaguely recall concern Jones would be too small for the ABs. That concern didn't last long.Wait what .... Let's set aside that the Blues didn't exist at the time, but even blind freddie would have promoted MJ to the Auckland team. He was a 6 ft 1 95kg loosie in the 1980s, who considered him too small?
You are right it was Auckland. But at 8 (when I first remember he played) he wasn't considered tall for an 8 in the lineout (where he played - as I recall - before he set up at 7). But Hart defended his many ways of jumping, inherited from a basketball background (I think?) So no, not a criticism I heard when he moved to 7/6.
I doubt it would be easy to find material to back up my memory (or debate it) unless you knew the players...
The Iceman was almost as strong as props, had the vertical leap of best locks and could keep up with SJK (JK in those days).
Absolute freak.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
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The one thing I liked the sound of in that article was Aaron Smith's desire to finish his career off in New Zealand, whether that means another stint at the Highlanders or elsewhere, would be awesome.
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
The one thing I liked the sound of in that article was Aaron Smith's desire to finish his career off in New Zealand, whether that means another stint at the Highlanders or elsewhere, would be awesome.
Yep be good if he came back and had season for Manawatu. But like you I liked him saying he wanted to finish career back here. Also liked reading that he agrees with only picking from here, we already seeing LF coming home so he can be eligible for ABs.
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
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@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
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@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
Nah ("if he's a proper athlete ala SBW") he should just skip that and go to the Blues like what SBW did
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@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
Nah ("if he's a proper athlete ala SBW") he should just skip that and go to the Blues like what SBW did
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
Nah ("if he's a proper athlete ala SBW") he should just skip that and go to the Blues like what SBW did
This is not the 1980s. It’s not like all league converts are athletes compared to the weedy union players. They’re all athletes now.
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@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
Nah ("if he's a proper athlete ala SBW") he should just skip that and go to the Blues like what SBW did
This is not the 1980s. It’s not like all league converts are athletes compared to the weedy union players. They’re all athletes now.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2025:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Maybe if he converted a few years ago.
Still only 28, no reason why he couldn't get another half a decade in if he's a hard worker.
Oh, I agree that he could have 5 plus years in Union.
But he is 28 now and won’t make a super rugby debut until he is 30 at the earliest so I think there would be a reluctance from AB selectors to pick someone like that
If he's a proper athlete ala SBW and better than the rest I don't see why not.
I think he's a potentially a better bet than Benji and RTS who made the change late in their careers. Of the three I think he's more suited to rugby and like all I guess it depends on how he transitions back.
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
If he was smart, he would sign for the crusaders then!
Nah, he should skip that and just go straight to the Chiefs to become a proper rugby player.
Nah ("if he's a proper athlete ala SBW") he should just skip that and go to the Blues like what SBW did
This is not the 1980s. It’s not like all league converts are athletes compared to the weedy union players. They’re all athletes now.
I point you to my use of ""....
